Avalanche alert!

Skiers across the Alps face a further week of frustration as resorts battle to open lifts and slopes after the heaviest snowfalls in five years.

The combination of gale-force wind with snow at high altitude and torrential rain have resulted in the most dangerous conditions since February 1999 when more than 50 people died as avalanches devastated villages in Austria, France and Italy.

Many British holidaymakers were returning home last weekend after a week when the danger level reached the maximum five on the international scale: in most resorts, skiing was virtually impossible.

Only the Pyrenees, parts of Italy, and Scandinavia escaped the storms. Skiers in Andorra, which has some of the best conditions in Europe, have been enjoying perfect pistes beneath sunny skies.

But thousands of British families heading for the Alps over February half-term can expect outstanding piste conditions as the sun comes out and the snow pack stabilises.

At least seven people, including one British skier, have been killed in avalanches in France in the past fortnight.

'To leave the prepared piste to ski in such conditions, even for a professional, is suicidal,' said Pat Zimmer of Top Ski, Val d'Isere's off-piste ski school.

'Most fatal accidents are caused by inexperienced skiers or snowboarders triggering avalanches that fall on other skiers below them.'

Snow was still falling last weekend across a wide swathe of Europe but lower temperatures meant the danger of avalanches was slowly receding and piste patrols could begin re-opening slopes to skiers.

But skiers wondering if they ought to cancel their holidays should be assured that lifts and slopes are opened only when the piste patrol is satisfied that the area is safe.

Avalanches are one of nature's most powerful forces. They can travel at up to 200mph, flattening everything in their path.

The air pressure alone will rip fully-grown fir trees from the ground 50 yards before the wall of snow hits.